For Immediate Release: Le Grand Tour 2017 to Include Festival International de Louisiane

Lafayette, LA – Le Grand Tour is a Francophone voyage of five continents in a hundred stages, including twenty in France, to be held throughout 2017.

For the first time since its inception, Festival International de Louisiane, presented by LUS Fiber has been selected as one of the stops on the tour. “We are extremely honored that Le Grand Tour extends its visits outside of France this year,” expressed Consul Général of France Grégor Trumel, “and what better way of highlighting francophone culture than this unique festival… in Louisiana of course!”

“Le Grand Tour brings together great cultural and heritage events, which were selected for their ability to reveal and illustrate the wealth, diversity, and vitality of the Francophone culture. This year’s tour is to be held, for the first time since its inception, outside of France. The 100 events worldwide, varying from dance to photography, were selected to make 2017 a global celebration of the Francophonie culture! This directly aligns with our founders’ intent 31 years ago,” said Steven Gaubert, Board President for Festival International. “We are the largest International Music & Arts Festival in the United States and we are honored that Le Grand Tour chose us as the one event in the USA to align themselves with.”

Le Grand Tour is under the patronage of the President of the Republic and supported by Jean-Marie Le Guen, Secretary of State for Development and Francophonie, in collaboration with the International Organization of la Francophonie and its Secretary General, Michaëlle Jean.

The Consulate General of France in Louisiana was founded in 1803, following the sale of the Louisiana territory to the United States by Napoleon Bonaparte. It is the oldest French consulate in the United States. The Consulate’s principal missions include consular assistance to the French community in Louisiana; support of French language educational programs; development of French cultural initiatives; facilitation of economic exchange between France and Louisiana. The Consul General of France in Louisiana, Mr. Grégor Trumel, is the Consulate’s chief of mission.

About Festival International de Louisiane

Festival International de Louisiane is a non-profit organization that produces the largest International music and arts festival in the United States with a special emphasis on the connection between Acadiana and the Francophone world and an estimated economic impact of 49 million annually. With over 300,000 festival goers every year, the annual festival features musical performances by artists from over 20 countries along with workshops, exhibits, visual art, theater and other forms of performance arts. The 5-day festival is held in April transforming downtown Lafayette, Louisiana into an entertainment mecca.
Celebrate 31 years of Festival International de Louisiane, April 26-30, 2017!